Chapter 17 The Diverse Peoples of the West What drew new settlers to the western part of the United States in the 1800s?

17.1 Introduction Pioneers had different reasons for coming Cheap land New religion Gold rush Settlers did not care about the people already in the West Impacted the Mexicanos and the Nez Percés

17.2 The West in the Mid-1800s Writers were writing about the West It was cheap Families with a small amount of money could own land In 1848 there was news of gold in California People started to head to California People who went by water sailed around South America or sailed to Central America and took ships to California, most went by land Most of the newcomers didn’t respect the people who already lived in the west or their land Some took away the land of people who have had that land for a long time Settlers broke land treaties and took the land

17.3 Mexicanos Many Mexicanos had ranchos Most were just for raising cattle Traded goods like hides and fat Also grow crops Had cowboys watch over their land Had special tools and clothing: lariat (rope), sombreros (wide- brimmed hat), chaps (protects their legs from thorny bushes) Food: rich beef stew and tortillas built their houses out of clay bricks (adobe) Dug ditches to get water Made songs about current events called corridos Were outnumbered by settlers Settlers didn’t give them respect

17.4 Forty-Niners Forty- niners were people who went to California for the Gold Rush Hoped to get rich quickly Some were a former or run away slave Lots of the gold was in the river Scraped gold off rocks in the river and panned for gold Many worked in groups using a sluice Hard and lonely life Lived in tents and shacks Many went home with no profit

17.5 Chinese Immigrants Chinese learned about the gold rush in 1851 Sailed to California looking for the “Golden Mountain” Hopped to earn money then return home Most Chinese were poor When they got to California most of the gold that was easy to find was gone Worked together in abandoned mines Figured out new ways to find gold by using tools they made American miners were jealous of the Chinese Government put a tax on foreign miners Americans also used violence and threats to get to Chinese to go

17.5 Chinese Immigrants Many Chinese people helped to build the first railroad that spread across North America They were in the Central Pacific Railroad Skilled at laying track Earned less than everyone Long hours Riskier jobs Some had to carve tunnels through solid rock Dangerous work Completed the railroad in 1869

17.5 Chinese Immigrants Had to get new jobs Storeowners, farmers, fishermen, Americans still didn’t like them Accused Chinese of taking their jobs for less money Some Chinese were forced to leave Some were killed In 1882 Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act Stopped most Chinese from coming to the United States Years passed until they could come back

17.6 Mormons Were looking for religious freedom Joseph Smith founded Church of Christ He was an inspiring preacher Many accompanied him when he went west Americans attacked them Didn’t like their beliefs Mormons moved Non- Mormons feared that they had to much power Some Mormon men were accused of having more than one wife Joseph and his brother were arrested Mob broke into the jail and killed them

17.6 Mormons In 1846 Mormons left Illinois and went to Nebraska Their new leader, Brigham Young, said they would only be safe in the West Started to go in 1847 Built cabins, planted crops, and dug wells for other groups coming Young decided they were staying in Great Salt Lake Started to build their city More Mormons started to come left messages for others in animal skulls Missionaries gained new followers Wouldn’t be forced out of their homes again

17.7 Oregon Pioneers In the 1840’s news of Oregon Country spread East in lots of ways Fur traders Forests and farmlands Religious leaders Told settlers to move Newspapers and books Good life of farming, fishing, and trading In 1843 one thousand people in Missouri organized a wagon train headed to Oregon Loaded the wagons with supplies

17.7 Oregon Pioneers Hard work Found lots of grass for animals Men drove wagons, herded cattle, found camp, and guarded the wagons Women set up camp, washed clothes, and cooked Also took care of the sick Travelers got diseases, suffered hunger and cold, poisoned by water Many died Found lots of grass for animals Crossing rivers, steep mountains, and deserts were dangerous Passed through American Indian land Some were nice and traded Some were mad because their cattle was eating the buffalo’s grass In 1845 thousands of people had traveled the Oregon Trail

17.8 Nez Percés Lived in Oregon, Idaho, and Washington They went places with prized horses Ate salmon, wild berries, and plants White settlers began farming on their land Made treaties promising the Nez Percés some land and whites other land Government persuaded the Nez Percés onto a reservation To avoid war some headed towards the reservation Chief Joseph refused to go He feared US soldiers would attack his tribe He lead his people to Canada

17.8 Nez Percés Soldiers chased them They hid and fought the soldiers They were 40 miles away from Canada when soldiers found them Chief Joseph surrendered U.S. promised they could return home They actually took them to a reservation in Oklahoma Half of the tribe died Some were allowed to return to Idaho and Washington They never went back to their land